Product Description
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With a score by George Benjamin and text by Martin Crimp, Written
on Skin has been hailed as ‘magic and irresistible … the best
opera written over the last twenty years’ (Le Monde). A cruel and
powerful Protector (Christopher Purves) asks a mysterious Boy
(Bejun Mehta) to create an illuminated book in honour of his
wealth and family. He invites the Boy into his home, little
realizing that this will lead to a journey of startling, joyful
and ultimately tragic self-discovery for the Protector's
oppressed and much younger wife Agnès (Barbara Hannigan).
Accled director Katie Mitchell brings this dark and intense
story to life in an inventive production that skilfully combines
elements of the past and present, with Benjamin himself
conducting. Filmed in High Definition 25p and recorded in true
Surround Sound.
Press Reviews
"Magic and irresistible ... It is the best opera written over the
last twenty years." (Le Monde)
"Written on Skin is close to being a masterpiece." (Le Figaro)
"Would the opera work so well without a Protector as adept at
portraying cruel, complex characters as baritone Christopher
Purves, or a soprano combining fierce presence with such pure
tone as Barbara Hannigan, or a countertenor Boy sounding as
beguiling and other-worldly as Bejun Mehta? Perhaps not quite.
But it would still be a musical masterpiece." (The Guardian)
"This is music of genius. It also draws superb performances from
a flawless cast: Christopher Purves (the castellan), Barbara
Hannigan (his wife), Bejun Mehta (the artist), and Allan Clayton
and Victoria Simmonds as the choric angels, who seem to instigate
as well as observe the action. Benjamin's conducting of his own
music was literally authoritative, and the orchestral playing was
ravishing. After a long run of mediocrity at the Royal Opera,
what joy to encounter something as enthralling and enchanting as
this. " (The Daily Telegraph)
Awards
Gramophone Award {2014} (Contemporary)
International Opera Award (UK) {2013} – World premiere
Opernwelt – Premiere of the Year {2013} – Best new work
Grand Prix Du Syndicat de la critique {2013} – Opera
Opéra Magazine – La Diamant d’opera {2013} – Opera
BASCA Award {2013} – Stage Category
New York Times –‘Favorite Classical record of the Year’ 2013
South Bank Sky Arts Award {2014} – Opera
Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik {2014} - DVD
Choc de Classica {2014} - DVD
Royal Philharmonic Society’s Large-Scale Composition {2014} –
Opera
Cast
CHRISTOPHER PURVES (The Protector)
BARBARA HANNIGAN (Agnès)
BEJUN MEHTA (Angel 1/ The Boy)
VICTORIA SIMMONDS (Angel 2/ Marie)
ALLAN CLAYTON (Angel 3/ John)
DAVID ALEXANDER, LAURA HARLING, PETER HOBDAY, SARAH NORTHGRAVES
(Angel Archivists)
Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House; George Benjamin
Production
Company: The Royal Opera
Stage Director: Katie Mitchell
Television Director: Margaret Williams
Disc Information
Catalogue Number: OA1125D
Date of Performance: 2013
Running Time: 89 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, JP
Label: Opus Arte
Review
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This is essential viewing and listening for anyone interested in
opera, or music more generally, today. --Boston Globe, David
Weininger
Benjamin's chromatic vocal writing is consistently mellifluous
and his sensitive and radiant orchestration never fails to
impress. Mehta's eerie male soprano perfectly conveys his
otherworldly, angelic character, Purves' inful
interpretation lends an element of humanity to his nefarious
character and Hannigan's moving portrayal of a woman coming to
self-awareness is both vocally gorgeous and dramatically
incisive. --The WholeNote, Daniel Foley
In an age when contemporary British operas too often resort to
shock-and-schlock tactics it is a pleasure to encounter such a
concise and sophisticated jewel of an opera. --The Wholenote
The latest opera from British composer George Benjamin, "Written
on Skin," effectively exhibits the potential of 21st century
opera, and how new entries in this art form can still engage a
modern audience. --Steven Bergman, Edge Media Network
The greatest [opera] of the past twenty years [...] Benjamin
works with fastidious nuance, layering transparent landscapes
that unfold in somber radiance. --Opera News, May 2014
2014 Gramophone Magazine Award Winner - Contemporary --Gramophone
Magazine
With a live already available, why take up more shelf
space with the DVD? Even though George Benjamin's first
full-length opera is so psychologically laden that staging might
seem superfluous, Katie Mitchell's original production matches
visual layers to musical ones - with subtitles to catch every
turn in Martin Crimp's text. --Gramophone, December 2014
